On the evening News the other night and then in an article in the Chicago Tribune, I read a story about Studs Terkel. Studs Terkel was a prize-winning author and radio broadcaster who focused his work on the thoughts and lives of the average America. Terkel’s book Division Street: America was compiled from interviews from Chicagoans from all walks of life: prostitutes, ordinary workers, whites, blacks, Hispanics, businessmen. Terkel is also remembered for several of his books such as Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression, in which he captured the views during the Depression of people spanning the socioeconomic spectrum from inmates in a prison to the wealthy. His book, Working, reflected the feelings of the typical working class about their jobs and what they do all day. Studs Terkel passed away October 31, 2008. The story of Studs Terkel and his life and work, reminded me of our recent speaker, LeAlan Jones.
Both of these men have worked as journalists in Chicago. Both have used the radio as a media to tell their stories. Both men have written about the simple, lower-to-middle class, the downtrodden. I wondered why I had not known about either journalist until this fall. Instead, our typical media promotes the lives of the rich and famous through People Magazine, Sports Illustrated, News Week, and television news stations. What does this say about our values as a society?
How do we go about learning of these journalists and radio shows?
Can anyone explain the significance of the quote that is the title of this blog?
2 comments:
Wow, Kimber this is really interesting. I did a blogpost in the beginning of the year talking about what the media has come to. I think its really cool that you learned about Studs Terkel through two different sources and then connected it to LeAlan Jones' story. After reading what you wrote i realize how they are connected.
I too think it is absurd that jounalism now revolves around the rich and famous celebrities' lives instead of people who have actually made an intellectual impact on the world. Honestly, today, it is hard to come across stories or articles about influential or intellegent people such as Mr. Jones or Mr. Terkel.
As for the title of this article, im guessing it may be referring to the work it takes for a journalist or author such as these two to become so accomplished. It takes hard work and curiosity to write about the significant significant things they have written about while many other people would just push it aside and say, "it's too hard" people like Stud Terkel continued to investigate and ask questions, and eventually that made them significantly intelligent people that are worth learning/talking about.
Fantastic subject for a post, Kimber. Studs was definitely a hero of mine: he had a unique way of getting his interviewees to open up and relate some pretty frank stories.
But you're correct, these stories of "ordinary" people are often buried in the noise of celebrity "news"!
Post a Comment